THAT the Martinborough Christmas parade will be held on Sunday 18th December commencing from the Martinborough Transport yard at 5pm.
THAT 60% of all music recordings sold in America are Country and Western.
THAT Wairarapa College technical classes has provided Martinborough School with outdoor seating sets which have been placed under shade trees for the pupils to eat lunch.
THAT the nice thing about egotists is that they don’t talk about other people.
THAT on December 11th 1877 English photographer Eadweard Muybridge took a series of photographs which proved that a galloping horse’s feet were all off the ground between strides.
THAT New Zealand writer Ngaio Marsh is one of only three writers to have had one million copies of their books printed in one year. The other two: George Bernard Shaw and J B Priestly
THAT you shouldn’t take yourself seriously – nobody else does.
THAT Elton John was awarded a million pound in damages from the Sun newspaper on December 12th 1988 for libellous allegations about his private life.
THAT the Chinese discovered that if you beat cream while freezing it you get ice cream. Marco Polo took the secret back to Italy I295. In 1903 New York ice cream seller Italo Marcione patented the ice cream cone.
THAT Two local sporting high achievers :Dave Shepherd represented New Zealand at Beijing Triathlon finishing 17th out of 100 in the world in his age group. Marilyn Morrison recently completed her second Hawaiian Ironman and is also to represent New Zealand at Triathlon at the world champs in Auckland October 2012.
THAT in December 1991 the Italian Government declared American cigarettes illegal. Not to curb smoking but to stem tax losses through cigarettes being smuggled into the country by the Mafia.
THAT in December 1973, due to English coalminer’s industrial action, coal supplies had dwindled to 40% of daily requirements. The government ordered a 3 day working week and TV to be closed at 10.30pm in an effort to stretch the resource, the country’s main fuel supply.
THAT Australian Prime Minster Harold Holt drowned why swimming alone at Portsea Victoria on December 17th 1967. Despite intensive search his body was never found.
THAT Antonio Stradivarius, the renown violin maker, died on December 18th 1737. His innovation in violin, cello and viola design created the standard by which these instruments are judged to this day.
THAT the biggest land deal in history was signed on Dec 20th 1803 when France sold 2,153,121 sq kms of land, New Orleans and Louisiana, to the United States of America for a mere 15 million dollars.
THAT on Dec. 24th 404 the Christian Churches agreed to set the date of Christmas at 25th December . Previously some celebrated it in December or January others in May.
THAT J M Barrie’s play ‘Peter Pan’ premiers on December 27th 1904.
